Found An Omega Speedmaster Gifted By Paul Newman

Paul Newman, as HODINKEE readers probably know, was both a renowned actor and a professional racing driver, who famously prompted his wife to gift him a Rolex Daytona to time his laps. He actually owned several versions of the Daytona chronograph, including one with an exotic dial that was later nicknamed after him (and which would go on to become one of the most collectible, as well as enthusiastically faked, watches to ever exist). So what is the connection between Paul Newman and a blue-dial Omega Speedmaster that just came up for sale? This very Speedmaster was actually a Christmas gift from Paul Newman to a member of his racing team almost 20 years ago. It is still in an untouched condition and comes with something very special.

Paul Newman, as HODINKEE readers probably know, was both a renowned actor and a professional racing driver, who famously prompted his wife to gift him a Rolex Daytona to time his laps. He actually owned several versions of the Daytona chronograph, including one with an exotic dial that was later nicknamed after him (and which would go on to become one of the most collectible, as well as enthusiastically faked, watches to ever exist).

So what is the connection between Paul Newman and a blue-dial Omega Speedmaster that just came up for sale? This very Speedmaster was actually a Christmas gift from Paul Newman to a member of his racing team almost 20 years ago. It is still in an untouched condition and comes with something very special.

Legend has it, Paul Newman fell for racing while making Winning, a movie that introduced him to the paddocks in 1968. He didn't go halfway into his new passion, starting professional racing only four years later. In 1979, he ran the mythical 24 Hours Of Le Mans in a Porsche 935, and, with his team, finished second. He went beyond just being a driver as well, launching his own racing team with Carl Haas in 1983, under the "Newman/Haas Racing" name. Over the next 30 years NHR won nothing less than 105 CART races and eight Drivers' championships.

In 1997, Omega chose Newman/Haas Racing driver Michael Andretti as a new ambassador, and launched a limited edition CART Speedmaster Automatic with a blue dial. The affiliation with the motor world was very clear, thanks to the white racing track and the CART racing logo in the lower sub-dial. This watch also came in a box that was shaped like a tire (in the same vein as the racing-helmet-shaped boxes Heuer used to use).

In December 1997, Paul Newman decided to order several examples of this CART edition as Christmas gifts to his racing crew. For this reason, the watches never passed through the hands of an AD, and their case backs were engraved with the name of the racing team, and the year.

The watch here was originally offered to Bill Mann, a seasoned body engineer involved with Newman/Haas Racing since its creation in 1983. What makes this watch exceptional is not only the provenance, but also the presence of the original gift card signed by the owners of Newman/Haas.

Besides the gift card, the watch comes full set, and it is in mint condition. More precisely, it is brand new old stock, as it has never been worn. It is not the "standard" version of the Speedmaster that Ben covered here; instead of a manual-wound caliber it comes with the caliber 1143, with an ETA automatic base and a Dubois Depraz module added for the chronograph complication. Those watches are also called "Reduced," as the case size is only 39 mm (versus 42 mm for the standard modern Speedmaster Professional, as described at length in this book). Note that the blue strap is actually original to the watch; another version – with a different reference number – sported a stainless-steel bracelet.

You can find this very special Speedmaster offered here; the seller is considering offers and trades.